This bill mandates that drivers and passengers of antique vehicles, specifically those with model years of 1968 or older, must wear seat or safety belts when operating these vehicles on state or local highways for distances exceeding 20 miles. The bill includes specific exemptions for vehicles being driven in parades or off-road, ensuring that the seat belt requirement does not apply in these scenarios. Additionally, the bill clarifies that it does not override any existing laws regarding seat belt usage.

To implement this requirement, the bill introduces a new section, 265:107-b, to RSA 265, which outlines the conditions under which antique vehicles must be fitted or retrofitted with seat belts. It also establishes penalties for violations, categorizing them as a violation under the law. The Department of Transportation is tasked with creating rules related to the installation and regulation of seat belts in these antique vehicles. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and is expected to have indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local expenditures due to potential changes in the judicial and correctional systems.